Google Web & App Activity

Your searches and browsing activity are saved in your Web and App Activity when it's turned on and you're signed in to your Google Account. This gives you things like better results and recommendations across Google's products.

You're in control of what's stored, and you can delete your past searches and browsing activity or turn off Web & App activity at any time.

What's saved in your Web & App Activity

Google uses your Web & App Activity to do things like provide better search results across all the Google products you use. For example, if you've searched for your favorite sports team in the past, Google can show you Now cards about upcoming game times or scores.

When Web & App Activity is on, Google saves information like:

Searches you've done on Google products like Search and Maps

Whether you searched from a browser or an app

Your interactions with search results, including which results you click

Ads you respond to by clicking the ad itself or completing a transaction on the advertiser’s site

Your IP address

Your browser type and language

Results that are returned, including results from information on your device (like recent apps or contact names you searched for) and private results from Google products like Google+, Gmail, and Google Calendar

When you check the box next to "Include history from Chrome and other apps in your Web & App Activity," Google saves information like:

Your Chrome browsing history (if you're signed in and have Chrome Sync turned on). This information helps you see more accurate results and suggestions. For example, if you read a lot of articles about your favorite sports team, you might see an option to receive news updates about that team.

The apps you use, and the data they share with Google. This lets you see things like sites or content that you've looked at in other apps in your Google search results.

How Web & App Activity works when you're signed out

Your search and ad results may be customized using search-related activity from your device even if you're signed out. To turn off this kind of search customization, follow these steps:

Visit www.google.com/history/optout while signed out of your Google Account.

Click Disable customizations based on search activity. This will turn the setting off for anyone who uses the same browser and device as you.

Predicted search results

If you have Google Instant turned on, when you type a search and pause, the predicted search will be saved in your Web & App Activity. The predicted searches will also be saved if you begin to search for something on Google and then click elsewhere on the page, like a search result, ad, or spelling correction.

Activity from other sites

If you notice unusual activity in your Web & App Activity that is unrelated to Google Instant predictions, it’s possible that you visited a third-party website or blog that has inserted Google Search or Google Maps onto the page, such as a list of search results, driving directions, or other uses. When signed in to Google, these inserted results may be saved in your history, which you can see at www.google.com/history.

Activity from non-Google apps

Some apps may share certain activity with Google to do things like make it easier for you to find information from their app. To stop having this information saved to your Web & App Activity, uncheck the box next to "Include history from Chrome and other apps in your Web & App Activity" on the Account History page.

Other unusual activity

If neither of the two situations above apply to you, it’s possible that your Google Account is signed in to a public computer where other people can search with your account or someone has accessed your computer or your Google Account. Learn how to keep your account secure.